Description

L: 39 - 44 cm; WS: 72 - 83 cm

The Oystercatcher is a large, stocky, black and white wading bird. It has a long, orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs. In flight, it shows a wide white wing-stripe, a black tail, and a white rump that extends as a 'V' between the wings. Because they feed mainly on cockles, the population is vulnerable if cockle beds are overexploited.

Oystercatchers can be found all round the British coastline. They can also be found inland.

Their usual breeding habitat is open, flat, stony coastlines.

Oystercatchers often gather in large, noisy flocks, especially in the winter.

This species is on the British amber list due to its reliance on cockle beds. There are around 125000 breeding pairs in Britain.